Podcast Summary: What A Day – Episode: "Can the Trump Administration Undo the Sexual Revolution?"

Release Date: December 7, 2024
Host: Jane Coaston, Crooked Media

Introduction

In this compelling episode of What A Day, hosted by Jane Coaston from Crooked Media, the discussion centers on the potential efforts of the Trump administration to reverse decades of progress made during the Sexual Revolution. Titled "Can the Trump Administration Undo the Sexual Revolution?", the episode delves into the intricate dynamics between policy changes, gender roles, and societal norms, offering a profound analysis of the current political climate and its implications for the future of gender equality in the United States.

Background: The Conservative Pushback

The episode opens with Erin Ryan highlighting the strained relationship between American men and women, exacerbated by Donald Trump's reelection campaign, which seemingly aimed to revert societal norms to a more patriarchal structure. Ryan introduces "Project 2025," a conservative initiative designed to undermine women's and LGBTQ+ rights established over the past decades. This project seeks to create a bifurcated society where "married straight guys" hold a privileged status over everyone else.

Erin Ryan [00:00]: "Rights many of us had all but taken for granted for generations... are now in the crosshairs of an empowered conservative bloc eager to turn this country into a place where there are two tiers of citizenship."

Policy Changes and Their Societal Impacts

Rebecca Traister, an author and New York Magazine writer, provides an in-depth analysis of how policy and sexual politics interconnect, creating feedback loops that significantly shape American society. Traister emphasizes the historical context, referencing pivotal Supreme Court decisions that legalized birth control and abortion, which in turn propelled social and economic shifts allowing women greater autonomy.

Rebecca Traister [02:23]: "There are the shifting social patterns and sexual patterns and romantic patterns... that enabled a bunch of social shifts around how women and men could live their romantic, sexual, reproductive, familial lives."

The discussion progresses to highlight the tangible actions taken by individuals to safeguard their reproductive rights in anticipation of potential rollbacks. Statistics reveal a surge in vasectomies, sterilizations, emergency contraception stockpiling, and a staggering 1200% increase in Planned Parenthood appointments for IUD placements.

Erin Ryan [02:23]: "There's been an uptick in vasectomies and permanent sterilization among Americans of reproductive age."

Moreover, the episode explores the conservative narrative attacking birth control, exemplified by misinformation spread by influential figures like Elon Musk. Musk falsely claims that hormonal birth control leads to severe mental health issues and personality changes, a claim debunked by experts but still pervasive in certain circles.

Elon Musk [06:16]: "Hormonal birth control causes depression and dramatically increases risk of suicide... it changes their personality."

Ryan counters these claims, clarifying that while there is a minor risk of increased depression (1%), Musk's assertions are largely unfounded.

Historical Context: Lessons from the Past

Drawing parallels to the mid-20th century, the episode examines previous conservative efforts to reinforce traditional gender roles. Post-World War II America saw a push for women to return to homemaking after contributing significantly to the workforce during the war. This period, often romanticized as the "1950s nuclear family" era, was marked by government policies that enforced conformity and suppressed progressive changes.

Rebecca Traister [13:22]: "The median marriage age for women fell to 20 in 1960 because the government made it so... it is possible for the government to make laws and change policies in a way that forces changes in marriage patterns."

However, this enforced conformity led to widespread dissatisfaction and rebellion, culminating in movements like the women's liberation movement of the 1970s. Traister warns that similar patterns are re-emerging under the current conservative agenda, suggesting that history may repeat itself with renewed vigor.

Conservative Strategies: Project 2025’s Comprehensive Assault

Project 2025 isn't limited to reproductive rights; it encompasses a broad spectrum of conservative policies aimed at restructuring societal norms. These include restrictions on abortion, rolling back no-fault divorce laws, targeting LGBTQ+ rights, and dismantling social welfare programs. The overarching goal is to reaffirm traditional gender roles, positioning men as the primary breadwinners and authority figures while relegating women to domestic roles.

Erin Ryan [07:03]: "But the incoming Trump administration is not just planning on putting its thumb on the scale. It wants to slam its fist down on the scale because contraception isn't the only product of social progress that conservatives are targeting."

The episode underscores the economic ramifications of such policies. By forcing women out of the workforce and back into homemaking roles, Project 2025 threatens to derail decades of economic progress and gender parity, potentially leading to an economic downturn exacerbated by a reduced labor force and limited consumer spending.

Resistance and Future Implications

Despite the aggressive push by conservative factions, there is substantial resistance from the public. Recent state referendums, particularly on abortion laws, have shown that a significant majority opposes the rollback of these rights, even in regions that traditionally lean conservative. This indicates a societal shift and a robust defense of the advances achieved during the Sexual Revolution.

Rebecca Traister [16:18]: "What you're then going to have is another massive explosion... you have a majority of this that is going to kick and scream against the reimposition of these norms."

The episode also touches upon emerging social movements, such as the purported "4B movement" inspired by South Korea, where young women are advocating for no involvement with men in any capacity. While this movement is still in nascent stages in the U.S., it symbolizes the deep-seated frustrations and the potential for significant societal changes if gender equality is further undermined.

Historical Insights and Future Prospects

Rebecca Traister provides a historical lens, reflecting on past government attempts to influence personal lives through marriage programs. She critiques the ineffectiveness of such programs during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, which failed to significantly alter marriage or divorce rates. Instead, Traister argues that comprehensive welfare and job training programs that foster economic stability have a more substantial impact on family formation and stability.

Rebecca Traister [20:19]: "The hard right... is much more likely to backfire. If people actually cared about family formation, ... more government programs to better support communities would stabilize marriage patterns."

This perspective suggests that genuine support for families through economic and social programs is a more effective strategy than coercive policies aiming to enforce traditional gender roles. The episode posits that without such support systems, conservative efforts are destined to fail and possibly provoke even greater backlash.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

The episode concludes on a hopeful yet cautionary note. Despite the formidable efforts of the conservative agenda to dismantle decades of progress, the resilience and adaptability of societal norms, coupled with active resistance from the public, suggest that undoing the Sexual Revolution would not only be challenging but also potentially self-defeating. The interplay between policy, societal values, and individual rights continues to shape the trajectory of gender equality in America, with the future hinging on the collective will to uphold the gains achieved thus far.

Erin Ryan [21:28]: "It's just kidding. I'm not going to leave you on something that dark... One of my favorite old songs, Loretta Lynn's the Pill."

In essence, What A Day provides a thorough exploration of the current political landscape's impact on gender relations, underscored by historical insights and expert analysis, making it an indispensable listen for those keen on understanding the ongoing struggle for gender equality in America.

Notable Quotes:

• Erin Ryan [00:00]: "Rights many of us had all but taken for granted for generations... are now in the crosshairs of an empowered conservative bloc eager to turn this country into a place where there are two tiers of citizenship."

• Rebecca Traister [02:23]: "There are the shifting social patterns and sexual patterns and romantic patterns... that enabled a bunch of social shifts around how women and men could live their romantic, sexual, reproductive, familial lives."

• Elon Musk [06:16]: "Hormonal birth control causes depression and dramatically increases risk of suicide... it changes their personality."

• Rebecca Traister [13:22]: "The median marriage age for women fell to 20 in 1960 because the government made it so... it is possible for the government to make laws and change policies in a way that forces changes in marriage patterns."

• Rebecca Traister [20:19]: "The hard right... is much more likely to backfire. If people actually cared about family formation, ... more government programs to better support communities would stabilize marriage patterns."

Produced by Erin Ryan and Max Fisher, with contributions from Emma Ilick Frank, Evan Sutton, Jordan Kanter, Kyle Segland, Charlotte Landis, Vasilis Vitopolis, Leo Duran, Raven Yamamoto, and Adrian Hill.